3 Reasons to Build the Keystone XL Pipeline

Few energy projects have inspired the level of vitriol surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline, that would run 1,700 miles from Alberta, Canada through the United States to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.

The oil sands of Alberta are estimated to hold 170 billion barrels of petroleum, the largest reservoir of black gold outside of Saudi Arabia.

Because the pipeline crosses an international boundary, President Barack Obama has the final say over whether to give the project a green light.

Here are three reasons to build the pipeline:

1. The oil isn't going to stay buried.

American environmentalists oppose the pipeline partly because they oppose the burning of fossil fuels -- especially those extracted from relatively dirty "oil sands." But if America doesn't build the pipeline, that oil is still going to be processed and enter the environment. It'll just get bought by China and other countries looking for cheap and plentiful energy. And TransCanada, the company behind the pipeline, is already working on contingency plans to do just that.

2. The pipeline isn't a disaster waiting to happen.

Opponents say that the proposed route dangerously strays over part of the Ogallala Aquifer in Nebraska, which supplies water for 20 million people. The governor of nebraska has urged president obama to start building. TransCanada has already agreed to redirect the pipeline to minimize hazards. It's also agreed to encase the pipeline in cement and post a $100 million bond to cover any possible cleanups.

3. It will help the economy.

Estimates for jobs related to the pipepline run everywhere from 6,000 to a quarter of a million, with TransCanada saying it will hire 15,000 workers to build the thing. The exact figures are unknowable, but once it's up and running, Keystone XL will adds billions of dollars in ongoing economic activity and tax revenues.

President Obama has the authority to stop the pipeline if he determines that it's not "in the national interest." Given the potential upsides of the project, the relative ease with which environmental concerns can be addressed, and the president's own commitment to what he calls "an all of the above energy strategy," it's hard to conjure up a strong case against building the Keystone XL pipeline.

Go to http://reason.com/blog/2013/02/17/3-r... for links to the claims made above.

Produced by Meredith Bragg. Written and hosted by Nick Gillespie.

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[Saint Seiya]

BELIEVES IN THE FREE MARKET

scumbag_vulgar_libertarian.jpg

SUPPORTS A CORPORATION THAT HAS STOLEN LAND

[gwheyduke]

This guy is nothing more than a paid spokes person for the fossil fuel industry: tax-exempt organization think tanks, produces studies to support a particular set of values., they are "the values of individual freedom and choice, limited government, and market-friendly policies." Reason Foundation's policy research areas include: American monetary policy, school choice, eminent domain, government Its largest donors are the David H. Koch Charitable Foundation. (Oil company owners)

[tony the tiger]

what happend to the slogan global warming?

[GeorgeJr Washington]

we have the best scientists in the planet, surely they can find ways to balance our eco systems. we don't need to stop providing means because of global warming. you see instead hugos buggos we will have to work it out. Scientists are losing funds. they moaned and not thing about counter productive.

[craigmichaels2011]

It's may 1st and the temperature is currently 52 degrees in ATL.... I don't think global warming has kicked in yet

[psalm69er]

What about deadly serious climate change?